I am begging for help...

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Remember she doesn't know what the word go potty means you have to teach her like when she goes potty on the pad say good potty good potty

That's why I had to teach Sapphire what 'Go Potty' meant first. She was clueless (at 2 years old!) I figured she was peeing on the carpet anyway, so I couldn't make the situation any worse, lol. She would 'go' occasionally on the pad, but I could never catch her 'in the act' to praise her. I've never had any luck with putting them on the pad. Once I interrupted them then that was it!

I'd see her going on the rug and say 'Sapphire! No no!'. She would look up at me, while still peeing, and give me the cutest head tilt and innocent look as if to say, 'Okay Mommie, as soon as I'm done here I'll come right over to you! What are we going to do now? Wanna play? Or you could rub my tummy! I love you!" Lol, I mean CLUELESS! And her expressions were so darling I would just end up laughing, knowing potty training just wasn't happening.

So the next time I saw her going on the rug, I said 'Go Potty', and 'Good Girl' when she finished. Just a gentle quiet 'Good Girl', nothing extravagant. Then I started to put her on the pad at the key potty times, after meals and play and naps. Finally, while on the pad and me saying 'go potty', she knew what I meant and she did go on the pad and got a Happy Dance from Mommie with a ton of 'Good Girls' and some treats. I let her know in no uncertain terms that she just made Mommie VERY Happy!

She is now 99.9% pad trained. The key is to catch them doing what you want, then reward and praise. Sometimes it may take 2-5 times of catching them, praise and reward, before they really understand, but you will see it in her eyes when she finally really understands.

I find too with puppies that a fairly strict schedule helps in beginning to know when they need to eliminate.

[dawn27]

It looks like you have gotten tons of great advise. One think I would like to add is that getting her on a set schedule would definitely help getting her potty habits down. Plus getting her pen set up completely with strict rules on when she can come out would work well too. Mainly after she eats and gone potty, drank and has gone potty, and woke up and has gone potty. Also after any play time she will need to go potty to off to her potty pad for that too. Be keeping her on a feeding schedule will help establish all of those things. But that also means not giving into her cries and whining. Pen training in much like cage training in lots of ways. The only difference is they have access to potty pads and is not being taken outdoors. There is still the training process to do. She must be taught what is expected of her. it is something that takes hard work and dedication but is so worth it.

You need to work with her ever single change you get. She will get it in time...Plus if you have not already please look at my site for those training tips I mentioned. Like I said in place of the cage just substitute for her pen and in place of outdoor potty you will take her to her pee pad. Everything else is pretty much simple training that will help you to maintain some control over her so that she is not just running wild. Not that she is but we all know how puppy are.

[smithj1000]

For the first couple of weeks I put Lexi in her crate to sleep at night because I was afraid I'd roll over and squish her. She hated not being able to get close to me and snuggle. So, I put her crate on top of an ottoman and pulled it right next to my bed and hung my head over so it was touching her crate until she went to sleep. Gosh, I was so uncomfortable! But, that made her happy and she laid down and fell asleep as soon as I leaned over close to her. Also, I put my big fluffy robe inside her crate as a nice fluffy cushion. She never pottied in her crate, though. I'd take her out a couple of times a night and we'd go in my bathroom and I'd shut the door til she pottied on her pad.

If I couldn't bring her close to the bed I would have slept on the floor close to her! Like you, I couldn't stand to see her crying.

Is there any way you can put her crate at the same height as your bed at night? It has to be something that has a solid footing so the crate won't fall off. She'll be so close she'll feel like she's in the bed with you.

[Mdyorkies1]

Courtney, how is she doing today?